Ellen began practicing yoga occasionally during college in her home state of Minnesota. As a dancer and athlete, she noticed how yoga complemented all of her activities, even including her musicianship as a singer through increased breath control and awareness. Though it wasn’t until moving to Chicago in 2009, where she began practicing regularly and began noticing the profound effects that the practice had in her life, both personally and professionally. She pursued her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and was especially drawn to the emotional and psychological benefits of yoga, and knew it would continue to be an important part of her life from then on.

Shortly after starting graduate school, Ellen discovered the practice of Budokon through her gym. She was immediately hooked and intrigued by the combination of martial arts and yoga, and how it gave her a sense of resilience and empowerment.Ellen began training in the Budokon academy and travels to Miami every year to train with Budokon founder Cameron Shayne. In Ellen’s class, you can expect to be challenged physically, while also having fun with animal movements and playful choreography.